173.23(5)(a)(a) A political subdivision or person contracting under s. 173.15 (1) that has custody of an animal that was not confined as required by a quarantine order issued under any statute, rule or ordinance relating to the control of any animal disease shall confine the animal for the duration of the quarantine or shall euthanize the animal with the written permission of the owner or, if the animal is determined to be diseased, at the direction of the person issuing the quarantine order.

173.23(5)(b)(b) Unless the person issuing the quarantine order directs that the animal be euthanized because it is diseased, at the end of the quarantine period the political subdivision or person contracting under s. 173.15 (1) shall return the animal to its owner if the owner complies with sub. (1) (a) to (d) no later than the 7th day after the day on which the political subdivision or person contracting under s. 173.15 (1) demands that the owner claim the animal and pay for its custody, care and treatment.

173.23(5)(c)(c) If an owner does not comply with sub. (1) (a) to (d) within the time provided in par. (b), the animal is considered an unclaimed animal under sub. (1m).

173.23(5)(d)(d) Before euthanizing an animal that is in custody because it was not confined as required by a quarantine order, the person with custody of the animal shall notify the person who issued the order. If the person who issued the order determines that testing of specimens is necessary to determine the disease status of the animal, the person with custody shall collect the specimens.

173.23(6)(6)Noncompliance by owner. If an owner is ordered under sub. (3) to pay, or post bond for the payment of, costs of custody, care or treatment of an animal, and refuses to do so upon demand, the animal shall be treated as an unclaimed animal subject to sub. (1m).

173.24(1)(1) A court shall assess the expenses under this section, minus any amounts paid under s. 173.22 (4) (f), in any case in which there has been a search authorized under s. 173.10 or in which an animal has been seized because it is alleged that the animal has been used in or constitutes evidence of any crime under ch. 951.

173.24(2)(c)(c) Expenses of taking any animal into custody under this chapter, including expenses reasonably incident to taking the animal into custody.

173.24(2)(d)(d) Expenses of keeping or disposing of any animal taken into custody.

173.24(3)(3) If the person alleged to have violated ch. 951 is found guilty of the violation, the person shall be assessed the expenses under subs. (1) and (2). If the person is not found guilty, the county treasurer shall pay the expenses from the general fund of the county.

173.25173.25
Immunity for euthanizing animals. A political subdivision, a person contracting under s. 173.15 (1), a humane officer or a law enforcement officer who has reasonable grounds to believe that s. 173.23 (1m) (c), (4) or (5) or a court order issued under s. 173.23 (3) authorize an animal to be euthanized is not liable for damages for the loss of the animal resulting from euthanizing the animal.

173.27(1)(a)(a) Adopt, by rule, standards for the training and certification of humane officers to ensure that humane officers are at least minimally qualified to perform the duties of a humane officer. The standards shall provide for training offered by the department or by others.

173.27(1)(b)(b) Adopt, by rule, deadlines by which humane officers must obtain certification.

173.27(2)(2)Training. Offer training courses for humane officers or approve training courses offered by others, or both. The department may charge a fee sufficient to recover the costs of training courses that it provides.

173.27(3)(3)Certification. Examine, as necessary, and certify humane officers as qualified. The department may charge a fee, established by rule, sufficient to recover the costs of certification.

173.27(4)(4)Registry of humane officers. Maintain and keep current a registry of all persons serving as humane officers for political subdivisions.

173.41(1)(a)(a) “Animal control facility" means a facility for the care of animals operated under a contract with a political subdivision under s. 173.15 (1).

173.41(1)(b)(b) “Animal shelter" means a facility that is operated for the purpose of providing for and promoting the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of animals, that is used to shelter at least 25 dogs in a year, and that is operated by a humane society, animal welfare society, animal rescue group, or other nonprofit group.

173.41(1)(c)(c) “Dog breeder" means a person who sells 25 or more dogs in a year that the person has bred and raised, except that “dog breeder" does not include a person who sells 25 or more dogs in a year that the person has bred and raised if all of those dogs are from no more than 3 litters.

173.41(1)(d)(d) “Dog breeding facility" means a place at which dogs are bred and raised and from which 25 or more dogs are sold in a year, except that “dog breeding facility" does not include a place at which dogs are bred and raised and from which 25 or more dogs are sold in a year if all of the dogs that are sold in a year are from no more than 3 litters.

173.41(1)(e)(e) “Dog dealer" means a person, other than an out-of-state dog dealer, who sells, distributes, or trades, or offers for sale, distribution, or trade, 25 or more dogs in a year that the person has not bred and raised or who operates an auction at which 50 or more dogs are sold or offered for sale in a year.

173.41(1)(em)(em) “Dog trial" means an organized competitive field event involving sporting dog breeds that is sanctioned, licensed, or recognized by a local, state, regional, or national dog organization.

173.41(1)(f)(f) “Out-of-state dog dealer" means a person who is not a resident of this state who brings 25 or more dogs into this state for sale in this state in a year.

173.41(1)(g)(g) “Temporary dog market" means a place at which persons sell dogs, and may sell other items, from booths or other spaces that are rented from or provided at no cost by the person operating the place, except that “temporary dog market" does not include a dog trial.

173.41(2)(b)(b) A person operating as an out-of-state dog dealer shall obtain one license under this subsection. Any other person required to obtain a license under this subsection shall obtain one license for each premises at which the person operates an animal shelter, animal control facility, or dog breeding facility or operates as a dog breeder or dog dealer.

173.41(2)(c)(c) A person shall apply for a license under par. (a) on a form provided by the department and shall provide information reasonably required by the department. An applicant shall submit the applicable fees required under sub. (3) with the application.

173.41(2)(d)(d) The department shall grant or deny an application for an initial license within 30 days after the application is complete and the applicable fees have been submitted.

173.41(2)(e)(e) A veterinarian licensed under ch. 89 practicing in the normal course of veterinary business within the scope of the license is not required to obtain a license under this subsection.

173.41(2)(f)(f) An individual providing foster care to a dog in the individual's home at the request of a person operating an animal shelter that is licensed under this subsection is not required to obtain a license under this subsection.

173.41(2)(g)(g) An individual is not required to obtain a license for the purpose of conducting a one-time kennel liquidation, if all of the following apply:

173.41(2)(g)1.1. The individual sells no more than 30 dogs and makes all of the dogs initially available for sale at the same time.

173.41(3)(a)(a) Except as provided under par. (b) or (c), the annual fee for a license under sub. (2) is as follows:

173.41(3)(a)1.1. For a person who sells or offers to sell at least 25 but fewer than 50 dogs per year, $250.

173.41(3)(a)2.2. For a person who sells or offers to sell at least 50 but fewer than 100 dogs per year, $500.

173.41(3)(a)3.3. For a person who sells or offers to sell at least 100 but fewer than 250 dogs per year, $750.

173.41(3)(a)4.4. For a person who sells or offers to sell 250 or more dogs per year, $1,000.

173.41(3)(a)5.5. For a person who operates an animal shelter or animal control facility, $125.

173.41(3)(b)(b) Except as provided under par. (c), the annual license fee for an out-of-state dog dealer is 150 percent of the fee determined under par. (a), based on the number of dogs sold in this state.

173.41(3)(c)(c) The department may promulgate rules specifying fees for licenses under sub. (2) that are higher than the fees in pars. (a) and (b) if necessary to cover the costs of administering this section.

173.41(4)(a)(a) The department may deny, refuse to renew, or revoke any license under sub. (2) if the applicant or licensee is not fit, qualified, or equipped to conduct the activity for which the license is required, has violated or failed to obey any applicable law, order, or regulation, or has misrepresented or intentionally failed to disclose a material fact in applying for the license.

173.41(4)(b)(b) The department may issue any license under sub. (2) conditioned upon relevant circumstances or acts. If a license is conditioned upon compliance within a specified period and the condition is not met within the specified period, the license is void.

173.41(5)(a)(a) The department may, by written notice, without prior notice or hearing, suspend a license issued under sub. (2) if, upon inspection of the licensed premises, the department finds any condition that imminently threatens the health, safety, or welfare of any animal on the licensed premises or there is evidence that an act of animal cruelty in violation of ch. 951 has been committed by the licensee or has occurred on the licensed premises.

173.41(5)(b)(b) In the notice under par. (a), the department shall state the reasons for the suspension and specify conditions that must be met for reinstatement.

173.41(5)(c)(c) The department shall specify in the notice under par. (a) a date after which a reinspection of the licensed premises may take place. The department may conduct a reinspection without notice to the licensee. The department may reinstate a license following a summary suspension if the department finds, based upon reinspection or evidence presented by the licensee, that circumstances warrant reinstatement. The department may specify a reinstatement date that it considers appropriate.

173.41(5)(d)(d) A licensee may request a hearing contesting a summary suspension under par. (a), by written appeal to the department, within 10 days of receiving the notice of summary suspension. The department shall describe the right of hearing in the notice to the licensee under par. (a). The department shall promptly initiate proceedings to hear the appeal.

173.41(6)(a)(a) The department shall inspect the premises at which a person who is required to obtain a license under sub. (2) (a) 1. to 5. operates before issuing the initial license and at least once every 2 years after the year in which the person is first licensed. The department is not required to inspect the out-of-state premises at which an out-of-state dog dealer operates.

173.41(6)(b)(b) The department may enter and inspect the premises for which a person is required to obtain a license under sub. (2) at any time during normal business hours to ensure compliance with this section.

173.41(6)(c)(c) The department may charge a fee for an inspection that it undertakes to determine whether a previous violation of this section or rules promulgated under this section has been corrected.

173.41(6)(d)(d) An inspection fee under par. (c) is due upon written demand from the department. Unless otherwise specified by the department by rule, the fee for an inspection under par. (c) is $150.

173.41(7)(7)Out-of-state dealers. The department may not issue a license under sub. (2) to a person who is an out-of-state dog dealer unless the person provides to the department a copy of any license required by the person's state of residence and any license required under federal law.

173.41(8)(a)(a) No person who is required to be licensed under sub. (2) may sell a dog without providing all of the following to the purchaser:

173.41(8)(a)1.1. A certificate of veterinary inspection from a licensed veterinarian stating that the veterinarian has examined the dog and found that it has no signs of infectious or contagious diseases as of the date of the examination.

173.41(8)(a)2.2. A copy of all vaccination records for the dog showing the date the vaccine was administered and the name of the person who administered the vaccine.

173.41(8)(b)(b) No person who is required to be licensed under sub. (2) may sell at auction a dog that is not spayed or neutered without providing written proof that the dog has tested negative for brucellosis using a test approved by the department that was conducted no more than 30 days before the day of sale.

173.41(9)(9)Age for transfer of puppy. A person required to be licensed under sub. (2) may not transfer a dog to a buyer until the dog is 7 weeks of age.

2015-16 Wisconsin Statutes updated through 2017 Wis. Act 57 and all Supreme Court and Controlled Substances Board Orders effective on or before August 11, 2017. Published and certified under s. 35.18. Changes effective after August 11, 2017 are designated by NOTES. (Published 8-11-17)